The state of Washington issues disabled parking permits to residents who have difficulty walking more than 200 feet. These disabled parking permits grant the right to park in the spaces reserved for disabled people, the handicapped spaces marked by the familiar blue and white wheelchair symbol. This handicapped parking spaces are closer to the door, and have added space alongside them for van loading and unloading.
These spaces are available in all fifty states, in every community across America. The disabled parking permit program aims to keep disabled persons safe and comfortable in their daily lives. If you believe you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit but are unsure how to proceed, look no farther.
How do I Qualify for Disabled Parking in Washington?
Because every individual has different needs, there is no hard and fast list of conditions that qualify a person for the disabled parking program. There are however a set of guidelines used by Washington medical providers in conjunction with the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles. Below are some of the most common causes for a patient to be considered eligible.
- Risk of or history of heart attack, stroke or other major cardiac illness
- Reliance on an assistive device, such as a wheelchair, walker or cane
- Use of a prosthesis or brace
- Full or partial paralysis or amputation
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or other severe respiratory distress
- Reliance on supplemental oxygen
- Legal blindness
- Neurological conditions causing seizures or sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone
While this list is not exhaustive, it should give you a better idea of your eligibility into the disabled parking permit program. Of course, the best judge of that is your primary care physician.
Of course, if you are recovering from an injury such as a broken leg, you may meet the requirements for a temporary placard instead. Temporary placards are issued to persons who experience a severe injury that lasts more than three weeks but is no permanent. These temporary placards last six months. If after six months you still need a disabled parking permit, you will need to be reassessed by a physician and start a new application.
Once again, there is no exhaustive list of conditions or injuries that might qualify you for a temporary disabled parking permit, but here are some examples.
- Broken limb or other severe injury to one limb
- Eye injury affecting vision or balance
- Recovery time from a recent surgery
- Pregnancy in which an OBGYN has ordered bed rest
- Walking pneumonia or other severe respiratory infection
- Herniated disc or other severe back injury
Ultimately, eligibility is determined by your and your doctor. If you feel you have a legitimate need, talk to your doctor about what you feel and experience to determine if you may be eligible for a temporary disabled parking permit.
In order to file with the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles, you will need to obtain a physician signed certificate. This certificate is a legal document that describes your disability, how it relates to ambulation, and ultimately determines your eligibility to the disabled parking permit program.
This certificate can be signed by your primary care doctor, or other members of their team. If you receive treatment from a specialist in relation to your disability or chronic condition, they can also sign for you.
If you are looking for a way to fast track your application, you might be better off with a virtual visit. Virtual visits can be scheduled nearly any time from the comfort of your desk. With access to hundreds of qualified Washington providers at the touch of a button, many people find the virtual visit to be the best option for their physician signed certificate.
What ever you choose, you will need a physician signed certificate to move farther with your application.
How Do I File for Disabled Parking?
Your last step in acquiring your disabled parking permit is to file with the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles. Form TD-420-073, along with a doctor’s signature, will grant you access to the disabled parking permit program. Depending on your needs, you will be issued either a temporary placard or a permanent placard. These placards are provided free of charge to Washington residents.
If you wish, you have the option to purchase either a disabled parking permit license plate or a disbaled parking permit tab (sticker). If desired, the license plate will cost $32.75 in addition to the cost of license plate renewal. A disabled parking permit sticky tab will cost $13.75.
The disabled parking permit tabs and disabled parking permit license plates, while optional, have the added benefit of being always on display. That way, you cannot possibly forget them when you park. For some, the peace of mind knowing they will never get a ticket for failing to display their disabled parking permit placard is enough to justify the cost. Ultimately, the choice is entirely yours.
What are the Rules of Disabled Parking in WA?
Now that you are armed with knowledge and ready to file for your disabled parking permit, make sure you know the rules of disabled parking.
- Always display your disabled parking permit placard while parked in a handicapped space. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
- Do not leave your disabled parking permit placard hanging from your rearview mirror while driving. This is an obstruction of view and could be dangerous and costly when local law enforcement serve you a ticket for obstruction of view!
- Make sure to renew your placard right away. If you do not renew your placard within 31 days of expiration, you may have to start a new application, complete with a new physician signed certificate!
- Remember that your placard is valid in all fifty states, so feel free to take your placard on the family road trip.
Remember that your disabled parking permit is intended to keep you safe and comfortable in your community. If you believe you may be eligible, do not hesitate to contact a doctor about your disabled parking permit eligibility.